A's ask: Are we coming or going?

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, June 16, 1998

The A's feel like a bunch of weary travelers on one of those budget European tours that stops in six cities in seven days.

"The schedule this year is ridiculous," Jason Giambi said. "It wears on you. I'm young, and my body is a wreck. Imagine a guy like Rickey (Henderson). Imagine how he feels."

Art Howe's team begins what might be considered a leisurely road trip Tuesday night with the first of three games against the Texas Rangers. After that, it's on to Seattle for three more games over the weekend. Then everyone returns the Bay Area to open a home-and-home series with the Giants.

What's the big deal?

Try this: Since May 22, the A's began a 41-game stretch leading up to the All-Star break in which they have no homestands longer than five games and no road trips longer than six games.

"That's what makes it so hard," Giambi explained.

"When you have a long homestand or a long road trip, you get in a routine. But you can't get in routine now."

Hold up a minute here. Giambi is 27 years old, the prime of his life, is in perfect health, and is a professional athlete.

"I used to say same thing, that I'd play the game for free," Giambi said, grinning. "But it's a lot harder than I ever thought. The best way I can put it is this: There was a TV crew, from the show "Bay Area Backroads,' that followed us on a trip. They followed us around and did what we did. And they couldn't believe how hard it was.

"And you've got to go out and perform. There's always the possibility of being sent to the minors. So every day you have to play like it's your last game. You can't put it on cruise control. It's a lot harder than it looks."

What makes the schedule this season so tough is that in addition to spending so much time getting on and off planes, the A's have to keep adjusting to different starting times for their games.

Beginning May 30 in Kansas City, the team began a stretch where its itinerary reads like this: night game, day game, then travel home for a game the next night, day game, then night game before finally getting two day games in a row Saturday and Sunday against Arizona. Notice there were no off days, either.

And unlike some teams, the A's don't get a break when they're at home. The Dodgers, for example, schedule all weekday home games at night. That way, the players can get into a regular sleep pattern before they report to work. But A's management persists in mixing up start times at home.

On the first homestand of this month, Oakland played a 7:35 p.m. game against Texas, followed by another at 12:15 the next afternoon, then played Arizona at 7:35 p.m., and followed that with a game against the Diamondbacks at 1:05 p.m.

That takes its toll on a team and could be as good a reason as any why the A's have such a poor record at the Coliseum this season.

"Day night, day night, that's the toughest part," Henderson said.

Still, even though Henderson is almost decrepit, 39 years old now, he manages to make it to the park every day ready to play. What's his secret? Giambi would like to know.

"I try to prepare myself," Henderson said. "I've learned how to get my rest. When you're younger, you run around a lot. You do things with your partner and stay up later. But at this stage, I don't run around as much. I make sure I get my rest."

OK, it's a tough life, at least tougher than some fans might realize. But still, there's got to be more than a few pulling out their imaginary violins and tuning up. The players know that.

"You're someone making a lot more money than the average person ever will," pitcher Tom Candiotti said. "And you're playing a game. So a lot of us don't even want to comment on it. Because it makes you sound like a crybaby. But I invite anyone to try it." &lt;

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